Duncan Joins Community Groups in Viewing Progress on the Rock Creek Park Trestle Connecting the Capital Crescent Trail to Silver Spring

For Immediate Release: Monday, February 3, 2003

Joining community groups that contributed funds for an observation deck, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today celebrated the progress of the construction project to rebuild the Rock Creek Park Trestle. The project will rehabilitate the wooden trestle bridge over Rock Creek Park and extend the Capital Crescent hiker-biker trail, providing an important link between Silver Spring and Bethesda.

“I have proposed in my Go Montgomery! plan to spend $100 million over the next ten years on hiker/biker trails and pedestrian safety, and the Capital Crescent Trail is an important part of this plan,” said Duncan. “I want to work to preserve this unique asset, which is the most heavily used trail in the County.”

“This is a great project for hikers and bikers throughout our community,” said Congressman Christopher Van Hollen, Jr. “This bridge provides an important missing link to our trail system.”

“It’s been a long time coming, but its here at the right time,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Howard A. Denis. “The trestle is a critical component of our effort to preserve and enhance the Capital Crescent Trail.”

“The Capital Crescent Trail is one of the crown jewels of our extensive trail system here in Montgomery County,” said County Councilmember Nancy Floreen. “And like the others here today, I’m committed to preserving it for use by outdoor enthusiasts for decades to come.”

Pam Browning, organizer of a petition drive to save the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring presented Duncan with petitions containing 10,000 signatures of trail users who oppose the inner Purple line or a light rail system along the trail.

“The petition drive reflects the breadth and depth of feeling among hikers and bikers from all over the region who use the trail,” said Browning. “The proposed light rail is absolutely incompatible with the beautiful, natural trail we need to preserve. Trail users feel strongly about this. The prospect of the destruction of thousands of mature trees that line the trail is abhorrent to them, and they could not enjoy, or feel safe, hiking and biking so close to trains.”

The rehabilitated trestle will feature a new prefabricated steel bridge resting atop the old wooden trestle supports that will preserve the aesthetics of the original design while providing a safe crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists. The new bridge will include railings, a safety fence, and scenic overlook turnouts.

During funding discussions for the bridge rehabilitation, community groups asked the County to consider building an observation deck on the bridge so trail users could take advantage of the scenic views without impeding others. However, the County considered the additional $200,000 cost of the observation deck prohibitive during tight budget times. So, three community groups donated more than $130,000 to fund the cost of the extra deck, with the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail providing $75,000, the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Coalition contributing $54,819, and the Washington Area Bicycle Association giving $2,500.

“Opening the trestle will be a big step toward completing the Capital Crescent Trail into Silver Spring,” said the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail Chair Ernie Brooks. “The trestle will remove the biggest remaining trail barrier between Silver Spring and Bethesda. There is more to be done before Silver Spring has the same easy access to the trail that Bethesda enjoys, but we will succeed if we work together with community partnerships like those demonstrated here.” “The trestle repair will serve as a crucial hiker-biker linkage for the Metrowide Capital Crescent Trail,” said Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Coalition President John Warnock.

“WABA is proud to be part of the partnership responsible for the restoration of the Capital Crescent Trail trestle bridge over Rock Creek Park., said Washington Area Bicyclist Association Board of Directors Secretary Chris Brown. “The bridge not only increases the utility of the trail for bicycle and pedestrian transportation, it also provides an opportunity for trail users to appreciate the natural beauty of this important regional park.”

The right-of-way that became the Capital Crescent Trail was abandoned by the B&O Railroad in 1985, when it was purchased by the County for use as a hiker/biker trail. The trestle crosses Rock Creek, close to Ray’s Meadow and East-West Highway. Trail users must now detour through Rock Creek Park using Jones Mill Road, Susanna Lane and Freyman Drive. When complete, the new bridge will provide a direct connection along the crushed gravel Georgetown Branch Interim Trail (future Capital Crescent Trail) which runs between Silver Spring and the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda. The Capital Crescent Trail connects to the C&O Canal towpath in Georgetown.

The trestle will cost about $1.3 million and is being designed and built by Cherry Hill Construction, Inc. and Greenhorne and O’Mara, Inc. The bridge should be completed in Spring 2003.

For more information, call Division of Engineering Services Chief Bruce Johnston at 240-777-7220 or check the County’s website at http://engineering.dpwt.com/, click on ‘All Projects’, and then click on ‘Georgetown Branch Trail at Rock Creek’ under Pedestrian Facilities.

 

Release ID: 03-039
Media Contact: Esther Bowring 240-777-6507